Petit Bayle
A house in south west France
The house was completed in 2008 and is set deep in the countryside of the Tarn et Garonne region of south west France, on a steeply sloping site. It is expressed in two distinct parts: a rubble limestone base containing a bedroom, pottery studio, shower and utility room below the main living and bedroom spaces enclosed in an inflected timber clad form which responds to the landscape and surrounding views.
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Vernacular materials are chosen for their pragmatic aesthetic and are particular to the ‘place’. Rubble stone walls, typical of this part of France, form the base of the house with locally sourced chestnut timber cladding enclosing the upper level. Timber shutters to the upper level close flush with the cladding to create an enclosed box when shut, giving strong vertical shadow lines which compliment the rubble stone below. Sliding galvanised shutters, similar to those used on local farm buildings, are used at the lower level for security and sunshading.
The building adopts a low tech approach to sustainability incorporating solar thermal panels for domestic hot water, rainwater harvesting (two 5000 litres tanks in basement) for flushing wc’s and irrigation and a green roof providing additional thermal mass.
The interiors have been created to compliment the external architecture and to display other aspects of my work such as my own ceramics and textile collection. Materials are chosen to reflect the external appearance with furniture and colour selected to contrast the natural hues of the building fabric.
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To rent the house, which sleeps 6, please phone or e-mail here
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Prices range from £700 – £1600 per week depending on season.
